HOW IT WILL WORK

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 138, 14 June 1930, Page 6

HOW IT WILL WORK

UNEMPLOYMENT TAX

VICTORIAN MEASURE

ADVISORY BOARD

Details of the Victorian Stamp Taj (Unemployment Relief) Bill, whicli provides for the levying of a stamp tax on all wages or salaries of from SI to £6 a week, were explained by the Premier (Mr. Hogan) when he moved the second reading of the Bill iii the Legislative Assembly, says the Melbourne "Age." .

Mr. Hogan said that tho measure made it clear that "salary or wages" meant "gross salary or wages," and included salary or wages paid by any public department. The schedule of tho Bill provided for tho tax to be levied on wages-or salaries of not less than £.1 or move than £6 a week. The comptroller of stamps was given power to refund money paid under the Bill if the applicant proved that he had already paid tax under tho Unemployment Belief Bill. Every person receiving salary or wages would have to give, a receipt, whether the money was paid to him personally or on his behalf. The same elauso provided for the cancellation of the stamp. Receipts would be deemed to be properly stamped only with .the words "Relief Stamp Duty," stamps for which would be issued by the comptroller of stamps'." The stamp duty payable by officers and employees of public departments arid prescribed classes of employees could be paid in one sum, and the employer could then deduct the amount of the tax from tha wages of his employees; The comptroller of stamps was given power to require any employer to produce for inspection books, documents, and other papers relating to the paymeiit of wages or salaries. ■' -; ■■ :■' PENALTY PROVIDED. A penalty of not more than- £20 was provided for any person who failed or refused to give a receipt, or who gave or accepted any receipt liable to duty under the Act. and not stamped, or who gave or accepted a receipt for a sum. less than the sum paid, or divided the amount paid with intent to evade duty. Provision was also made for all money received by tho comptroller-of stamps under the Act, and all penalties recovered under the Act to be paid, to'the credit of tho Unemployment; Belief Fund. The Act would continue in operation for twelve months, but tho proceedings for the recovery of unpaid stamp duties or penalties or proceedings relating to offences, would not.b9 limited. ' - Opposition members in tho. Legislative Assembly made it clear during the debate in committee on: the. Bill that they were anxious that the maximum. benefit should be obtained from tho-ex-penditure of the relief fund, amounting to between £800,000 arid £1,000,----000. Important amendments, designed to safeguard the expenditure of the money,- were moved by Mr! Macfarlan, Nationalist member for Brighton. KELIEF BOARD. Mr. Macfarlan's first - amendment proposed the establishment of an unemployment relief board, composed of the Minister of Public Works, two members of the Municipal Association, a member of the Country Koads Board, and a. member of the Metropolitan Board of Works, with the power to inquire into allvproposed works for- tho relief.'of tfie unemployed.- "•' ■:' ■" •"' Mr; Macfarlan said that' the ; object of the new clause was to provide some constitutional authority; to control tho fund. : '•-'■' .-•''• M£ Prendergast (Labour): "To supersede Parliament?'' Mr. Jackson (Labour): "Don't trust the Government." ; ' Mr. Macfarlan: "It is not a question of trusting the Government. It i% a duty we owe the taxpayers. Moreover, if you'provide' work at award rates of pay the fund will be depleted in a few weeks, and before the winter has ended the Ministry will be asking the House to pass another taxatioa measure." The Premier (Mr. Hogan), in declaring that the Ministry could not accept tho amendment, said that when the Bill was considered at the conference between the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council concessions" had been made by all parties so: : that the matter under discussion could be settled amicably, and as speedily as possible, having regard to its urgency.; ':■:., Mr. Everard :(Nationalist): -"Will you give preference to unionists?" Mr. Hogan: "Wo will" give preference to married men first." Mr. Forre3t (Progressive Liberal);' "Kegardless of whether-they ara unionists or not?" ■•■■'■ Mr. Hogan: "Yes. The only requirement is that they are registered at tho Government Labour. Bureau. Bureaux will be established in the. large, provincial centres, as well'as at" the central office in Melbourne. All country, police stations will be established as labour bureaux. Preference will be; given first to married men with families, then to married men without children, and lastly to single men." ■ .Mr. Bourchier (Country Party): "Will you control the fund??' SUBSIDIES TO MUNICIPALITIES. Mr. Hogan: "Yes, as Treasurer, in conjunction with the Minister of Public Works. The money will be spent in the form of subsidies to municipalities to carry out additional work; through tho instrumentality of. the Country Roads Board; for forestry purposes, and on other urgent works which, will provide adequate employment." Mr. Hogan announced that he was prepared to include a regulation under clause Bof the.Bill tpH establish a committee to advise the Ministry- on proposed relief works. Ho suggested that) the committee should be composed or the chairmen of the Country. Eoads Board and the State Rivers and_ Water Supply Commission, and the chief engineer of ports and harbours, with the secretary to the Treasury, and the secretary to the Charity Organisation Society, to. advise regarding sustenance payments. • ■--- ' Mr. Macfarlan withdrew the amendment after the representations by Mr. Hogan. . ....--... , • i Mr. Macfarlan also suggested tha payment of married men' at the rato of £3 a week of 48 hours and other persons at the rato of £2 10s a week, and for sustenance allowances of £1 5s a week for married men, with 5s a week more for each child,,and 15s a week for other persons. Pensioners should not receive sustenance allow- . anees and also persons who had not been living in Victoria for six months. Mr. Macfarlan explained that it was desirable to make the fund last as long as possible. The debate was adjourned.